While Jordan Lyden was a surprise name on the Aston Villa bench for Sunday’s 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal, it sounds like the claret and blue faithful can expect to see much more of him over the coming weeks and months.

The 19-year-old midfielder was promoted to first-team training by manager Remi Garde last week after starring for the Under-21s this season and has since impressed the new boss with his “skills, talent and spirit”.

Speaking to AVTV, Garde was full of praise for the Australia Under-20 international after handing him the chance to be involved with the senior squad for the first time at the weekend and hinted that he could be in line to make his professional debut at some stage over the festive period.

"It's a message to Jordan,” said the ex-Lyon boss, whose side travel to Newcastle United on Saturday. "What I saw of Jordan is a very committed player in training sessions.

"He has a lot of energy - and is always positive. He is young, without experience - but he has skills, talent and spirit.

"I thought for this game against Arsenal that it was good to have him on the bench."

Lyden, who was born in Perth, Australia, to English parents, originally joined Villa from ECU Joondalup in 2012 and penned a new deal until 2017 ahead of last season after breaking into the Under-21s.

The youngster subsequently saw his progress curtailed by a major hamstring injury which sidelined him for the entire 2014-15 campaign, but he managed to recover in time for pre-season and even came off the bench in two first-team friendlies against Walsall and Swindon Town.

Since appointed captain of the Under-21s, the Australian teenager looks to have a bright future at Villa Park, and having compared himself to Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak, could be competing with the likes of Carlos Sanchez, Idrissa Gana and Jordan Veretout for a place in the heart of midfield soon rather than later.

“I am a bit similar in way to Mile in that I like to get stuck in with a tackle and I can play at the same time,” he told The World Game back in August. “That’s what Villa seem to like about me ... I can play in the right areas and if I need to mix it up a bit I can. But I like to play football. That's really my game, the technical side of things."

Freddie Shires

Freddie is a freelance sports writer, having recently completed an MA in Sports Journalism at St. Mary’s University, Twickenham. With an especially keen interest in all things American sports-related, he has written extensively about the NFL, MLS and the U.S. national team for various sites.